Political Science

Political Science
Academic Bulletin

When advising a student interested in Political Science, please note:

• The introductory courses are POLSC 110, 120, 130, and 140
  • For the major, two introductory courses are required and three may count toward the major. First year students should begin by taking both introductory courses, ideally one in each semester of the first year. (Students are strongly encouraged to complete these by the end of the fourth semester.)
  • For a minor, one introductory course is required.
  • A 4 or a 5 score on AP exams in American or Comparative Government may substitute for one of the introductory courses.
• The Department is divided into five subfields: Culture and Politics, Globalization and Transnational Politics, Institutions and Processes, Policy Studies, and Problems in Democracy.
  • A first year student may begin to complete three courses in two categories listed above. 200-level courses are open to first year students. In general, introductory courses should be taken before 200-level courses.
    • Special topics courses will be assigned to categories by writing them in by hand and will “count” toward the categories requirement
• Students interested in… 
  • graduate programs (MA, MPP, MPA, PhD) should plan to take the Department’s course in Statistics and Data Analysis (POLSC 489), ideally in their 3rd or 4th year.
  • international affairs are encouraged to include foreign language study and take the 120 and 130 introductory courses. 
  • pre-law may consult the Pre-Legal Guidelines  of the Advisor’s Handbook, contact the Gateway, or see Prof. Brian Harward.
• We encourage first year students to attend the many programs sponsored by the Center for Political Participation (CPP) and consider applying to the Law and Policy program, run by the CPP.

Please contact Professor Kirschner for more information about the major and minor in Political Science.

Suggested Schedule for Political Science Majors: